To be precise. Monsters aren't only found in the Dungeon.
The weakest still live outside. That is why some familias hunt and live outside Orario.
For example the Poseidon or Artemis familias.
Even though they count as monsters, they could even be hunted by civilians like the hunters of our village.
In the nearby forest we hunt some animals or monsters.
Maybe because of a dungeon charisteristic These monsters become smoke and leave the core and drop materials, but those outside the dungeon could be normally butchered and eaten as long as they are not poisonous.
The group had good efficientcy. Two hunters would scout ahead and the group would encircle the prey.
Only in the morning they hunted two deers and three rabbits. After draining the blood, I had an extra weight of one rabbit in my backpack and had greater trouble to keep up with the adults.
An adventurer is strenghten beyond a civilian as soon as they receive the Falna, but even then, they I am still a child and could maybe be compared to a normal adult, but our hunters needed to be fit to stay alive if they encountered monsters so it was still hard for me. Not as hard as they expected, I recognize as some of them look surprised at me from time to time. Even Kai gives me some glances.
And as we take a halfway break to rest and drain the blood of another rabbit, he comes in my direction.
"You seem quite fit, lad. I don't see a problem if you want to be our support and learn from us.
What do you guys think."
"Yeah, you're doing great brat."
"I can't believe a young boy can keep up with our hunting speed."
"Even children double the age have trouble, so I am all for it."
"""Yeah, same."""
Kai nods and says: "Good, then hereafter you are part of our hunting group. When we get back we buy a danger for self-defense and dismantling work. Till then you can take this spare. After our return you can learn how to dismantle a rabbit from George."
"Kay, boss", the oldest one, that I would put around fifty years old, said.
"Thanks, sir. You guys too.", I thank them. Not everyone would hire someone my age.
And aside from gaining money, I can train. Two birds with one stone.
Then we made a detour back to the village as to not go through the same path again.
We gained another dear and a small boar.
Back at the village we began to dismantle the spoils of the hunt.
A part would be kept and dried for the familys of the hunters. The rest would be selled to the other villagers.
We already had late afternoon as I returned to the orphanage with some meat.
As I brought it to the kitchen, I greeted the ones preparing dinner.
Maggie was overseeing the children and said: "Alex, I see you found a job. Are you helping the butcher?"
"No I am am apprentice of the huntergroup and act as a supporter.", I answered.
"Isn't that to dangerous?", she asks concerned.
I reassure her and she was quite happy for me. Not many orphans became hunters in the past because they would keep the job they had when they were six and searched for work. A few changed later but it was quite rare, as you can see as no other orphan works in the group at the moment. I don't know if one of the adults was an orphan, but it doesn't matter to me.
So the months and years elapse.
They first teached me the basics and I did some workout to strenghten my body,
but only after I turned 9 did George make me a bow and I learned how to shoot it from him.
George became the one who looked out for me and tutored me the most as he was the one with the greatest experience.
I 'Upgrade' daily, but because I don't have an ability that helps to grow like Bell and only gained excelia from training and not slaying monsters, my Basic Abilities barely grew.
They now looked like this:
Strenght: G-243
Endurance: G-274
Dexterity: G-259
Agility: H-182
Magic: I-0
I could raise Strenght and Endurance as I keep carry the spoils and Dexterity by dismantling the animals.
I wouldn't just sprint while hunting, so my Agility lacks behind. I also didn't came in contact with magic so no gain there. Although the group notices that I got stronger, they wouldn't let me hunt before I turn 10, so my proficiency with my two weapons is only related to stationary targets.
Maybe it is just a feeling, but I didn't prefer them. The bow is good for long-distance-attacks, but isn't useful in close quarter combat and the dagger doesn't have much reach.
So in the future I should switch to a weapon I am more in sync with.
The future.
How long should I remain in the village?
This question appears more often,
but I at least want some experience with monsters,
So maybe when I am around 12.
We will see.
In the future.